Policy

Neb. adds to decades-long helmet law roll back in states

Just 17 states and D.C. have universal helmet laws, while 47 had them in 1975.
Participants in the “Rolling to Remember” motorcycle rally ride past Arlington Memorial Bridge during the annual motorcycle parade, ahead of Memorial Day, in Washington, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Nebraska is the latest state to roll back its mandatory helmet law for motorcycle riders, a movement that saw its first burst in the late 1970s after Congress stopped penalizing states without them.

The retreat from the equipment mandate runs counter to traffic safety and public health campaigns to expand helmet use. It comes as motorcycle fatalities hit a 46-year high in 2021, with the 5,932 people killed representing 14% of all traffic deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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